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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. J. N. POUSSOT. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 442,913. Patent-ed Dem-16,1890.

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M. J. N POUSSOT. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

N0.44Z,913. Patented Dec. 6,1890.

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No. 442,913. Patented-Dec. 16, 1890.

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* UNITE I STATES MARIE JOSEPH NICOLAS IOUSSOT,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF PIERRE, NEAR TOUL, FRANCE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,913, dated December 16, 1890. Application filed May 14, 1890. Serial No. 351,835. (No model.) Patented in France March 8, 1886, No. 174,619.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARIE JosEPH NICO- LAS POUSSOT, of Pierre, near Toul, Meurtheet-Moselle, in the Republic of France, have invented a novel Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel musical instrument having but a single string, and to which I have therefore given the name of the monocord.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an instrument embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation,Fig.

3 a plan, and Fig. i a sectional elevation, thereof, Fig. 4. being taken on the line 3 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents the runner. Fig.6 is an elevation, Fig. 7 a plan, and Fig. 8 a side sectional view, of the key-board used with this instrument. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 2, Fig. 2.

This instrument is made in two styles, one without a key-board, as represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and one with a key-board, such as is shown in Fig. 1.

A single cord A rests upon a bridge B, which communicates the vibration to a soundingbox 0, set in a frame D of any suitable form and resting upon two feet P. The single cord is fastened at a at one end of the instrument, and at the other end is connected through a clamping plate or hook I) to a brass wire, which is coiled around the stem of a screw V. This screw serves to stretch the cord to the desired extent for its suitable vibration.

The feet P, supporting the instrument, may be folded under the frame to facilitate packing.

I will first describe the simple form of apparatus without the key-board. This instrument is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and l. A prismatic rule having eight faces, each of which is marked with graduations corresponding to one of the keys of the scale, is placed alongside the cord. This rule is supported by and is free to rotate in two brackets d d, which are secured to the frame D. By rotating the rule the player can bring the graduated face having the divisions of the key in which he wishes to play directly under his eyes. The

player holds in the left hand a small rider or runner c, Fig. 5, which he moves over and presses upon the string at different points, according to the divisions of the musical key indicated by the graduations on the face of the rule turned toward him. In the right hand he holds the bow, which he uses in the ordinary manner to cause the single cord of the monocord to vibrate or sound. According to the posit-ion of the runner or rider different sounds or notes will be produced.

lVith this instrument vocal tones can be produced with the greatest facility and skill, and by a trembling movement of the wrist a very expressive tremolo may be produced.

This is the monocord, properly so called, of which I make a complete family of instruments. There is the study-monocord, (the smallest of all,) the fife-monocord, the soprano -monocord, the alto-monocord, the baritone-monocord, the bass-monocord, and the double-bass monocord. All are made and played in the same manner.

In the monocord constructed with akeyboardthe instrumentproperremainsthesame, except that the rule E is dispensed with and 73 replaced by a keyboard T, fixed on the frame by suitable brackets. The keys of this board, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, are flat, and their width is in proportion to the sharp .or flat notes to be produced. They are engaged or pivoted in the longitudinal groove of a piece of wood and are retained by a screw a, while a spring coiled on the stem of this screw maintains them raised in ordinary conditions. The cord serving to give the sound passes between the keys T and a wooden bar 0, which receives it when a key is pressed, so that it is seized or nipped, as by thejaw of avise, and the cordthus nipped gives when the bow is drawn across it the note corresponding to the key which is lowered. The bar c extends throughout the whole length of the key-board under the keys, below which passes the cord. The under side of each key is cut to an angle like the separate runner. All these keys are inclosed in the boX. A lid maybe employed to cover the entire system of the key-board.

A desk or rack F for music is fixed at the back of the key-board behind the lid.

The keys T, according to the mechanism I00 fitted to the key-board, may be unequal or equal, as in a piano.

Two and even a greater number of monoeord instruments may be united under the same string and on the same frame.

The frame is made so as to contain two or more sounding boxes, the same string stretched by a single screw passing over the two boxes. There is a bridge to each box, which upholds the string, as in a separate monoeord, and communicates the vibration each to its sounding-box. There is a keyboard for each sounding-box, which gives on the same frame and under the same string two or several monoeords fortwo or more persons playing, each having a bow.

I claim as my in vention 1. A musical instrument provided with a single string and means for nipping the said string atdifferent places to give the required tone when sounded.

2. A musical instrument provided with one string and a runner adapted to be applied to the string at different points to produce ditferent sounds by means of a bow, substantially as set forth.

A musical instrument provided with one string, a runner adapted to be applied to the string, and a graduated rule alongside the string to determine the positions of the runner for the production of different sounds by means of a bow, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARIE JOSEPH NICOLAS lOUSSOT.

\Vitnesses:

CLAUDE SIERNE, CHARLES SHIBAUY. 

